Lightning to host Battle of Badges charity game between Tampa Bay-area police and firefighters

The Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 17 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum will host a charity hockey game called Battle of the Badges. Tampa Bay area police and firefighters will face off along with Lightning alumni, including former captain Dave Andreychuk and team founder Phil Esposito. Proceeds benefit the Gold Shield Foundation.

Here is the announcement from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Battle of the Badges, presented by Bright House Networks, a charity hockey game, on Saturday, November 17 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum with festivities beginning at 3 p.m. The game pits Tampa Bay-area police and fire departments against each other on the ice at the Times Forum along with Lightning alumni and personalities to benefit the Gold Shield Foundation.

The event will get started at 3 p.m. with a used equipment sale, where fans and hockey players alike can find game-used items at a discounted price, on the promenade patio outside Gate A. Beginning at 3:30 p.m., Lightning alumni and personalities will sign autographs for all those in attendance on the promenade patio outside Gate B. The doors to the Tampa Bay Times Forum will open for the Battle of the Badges at 4 p.m. for a youth hockey game between two local teams, the Police Athletic League and the Scorpions, with the puck for the Battle of the Badges dropping at 5 p.m.

“It is an unbelievable honor to share the ice again with these heroes from our local police and fire departments,” vice president of fans and business development Dave Andreychuk said. “We have done a number of charity games with them in the past and I can speak for myself, as well as the rest of the alumni, when I say we’re all looking forward to doing it again for another great cause.”

“Bright House Networks is proud to support the Tampa area’s Finest and Bravest in their mission to keep our communities safe,” said Joe Durkin, senior director of corporate communications for Bright House Networks. “We are honored to partner with the Lightning and the Tampa Bay Times Forum to bring this exciting match up to the ice to benefit the departments’ charities.”

The event will be hosted by Lightning television play-by-play announcer Rick Peckham and will feature enter to win contests, appearances by ThunderBug and the Lightning Girls, live in-game interviews with players, police and fire vehicles on the West Plaza, celebrity coaches and more. There will be a 50/50 raffle as well as donation boxes located throughout the arena with all proceeds going to the Gold Shield Foundation.